Kerala - Kochi   

SCMC directs Government to supply water in Eloor

Staff Reporter

In five wards affected by industrial pollution

KOCHI: The Supreme Court Monitoring Committee (SCMC) on Hazardous Wastes has directed the Government to supply adequate drinking water in tankers to the people of five wards in Eloor affected by industrial pollution.

The Kerala Water Authority will have to implement the directive issued by the Supreme Court committee. Claude Alvares, co-ordinator, SCMC sub-committee for Kerala, said that the cost of these supplies would be met by the Government as penalty for not ensuring permanent supply to the community by December 31, 2005. "The supply is to be carried out till a permanent water supply scheme is established and is fully functional. Since this concerns a matter of implementation of apex court directions, the panchayat and other local bodies may be kept out of these arrangements as they have a tendency to politicise and delay implementation," Dr. Claude said.

He said that the SCMC was concerned about the destruction of fields and water supplies with effluents discharged into the Kuzhikandam creek in Eloor by FACT, HIL, IRE and Merchem. These hazardous wastes had accumulated over several years. They had destroyed water supplies in all the wells in five wards, leaving the people completely ill and demoralised.Even on March 26, 2006, as the committee went around the area, the stench of chemicals from the canal was still overpowering. Human beings should not be compelled to live in such an appalling environment, Dr. Claude said.

The SCMC, in line with the apex court's orders on May 7, 2004, had asked the Kerala Pollution Control Board to ensure water supplies to the persons listed in a survey of persons affected, conducted by the Local Area Environment Committee.

The KWA prepared a detailed scheme for water supply with cost estimated at Rs.1.4 crores. The water authority insisted that the entire amount be paid to it in advance. The amount was to be raised from the four companies, by invoking section 16 of the Hazardous Waste Rules, 1989, as amended in 2003 or the polluter pays principle.

While FACT and the HIL agreed to pay their share, Merchem and the IRE were disputing theirs on the ground that their contribution was not as serious or heavy as those of the HIL and FACT.

Dr. Claude said that the work of distribution of water through individual pipelines was to be completed by December 2005. "It has not even commenced. This is a shame," he added.

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